Describing Ongoing Actions: Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense in Portuguese is a versatile and essential aspect of the language, allowing speakers to convey ongoing actions in the past or habitual events that were part of their daily lives. In this article, we'll explore the nuances of the imperfect tense, its formation, uses, and examples, helping you gain a deeper understanding of this important grammatical structure.

Understanding the Imperfect Tense

When to Use the Imperfect

The imperfect tense (pretérito imperfeito) is primarily used in Portuguese to describe:

  1. Ongoing Actions in the Past: It is perfect for illustrating actions that were happening continuously or repeatedly.
  2. Habitual Past Events: When talking about activities that used to occur regularly or habits that were once part of your routine, the imperfect is your go-to choice.
  3. Background Information: It sets the scene for other actions in the past, providing contextual details that help the listener visualize what was happening.

Comparison with Other Past Tenses

In Portuguese, there are several past tenses: the simple past (pretérito perfeito) and the pluperfect (pretérito mais-que-perfeito), among others. While the pretérito perfeito is used for actions that have been completed or occurred at a specific moment, the pretérito imperfeito focuses on actions that either were ongoing or habitual. For example:

  • Pretérito perfeito: Eu fui ao mercado. (I went to the market.)
    This conveys a completed action.

  • Pretérito imperfeito: Eu ia ao mercado todos os sábados. (I used to go to the market every Saturday.)
    This indicates a habitual past action.

Forming the Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense is relatively straightforward to form. Regular verbs fall into three conjugation categories: -AR, -ER, and -IR. Below are the conjugation patterns for each type.

Regular Verbs

  1. -AR Verbs (ex. falar - to speak):

    • Eu falava (I was speaking)
    • Tu falavas (You were speaking)
    • Ele/Ela/Você falava (He/She/You were speaking)
    • Nós falávamos (We were speaking)
    • Vós falavas (You all were speaking)
    • Eles/Elas/Vocês falavam (They/You all were speaking)

  2. -ER Verbs (ex. comer - to eat):

    • Eu comia (I was eating)
    • Tu comias (You were eating)
    • Ele/Ela/Você comia (He/She/You were eating)
    • Nós comíamos (We were eating)
    • Vós comíeis (You all were eating)
    • Eles/Elas/Vocês comiam (They/You all were eating)

  3. -IR Verbs (ex. viver - to live):

    • Eu vivia (I was living)
    • Tu vivias (You were living)
    • Ele/Ela/Você vivia (He/She/You were living)
    • Nós vivíamos (We were living)
    • Vós vivíeis (You all were living)
    • Eles/Elas/Vocês viviam (They/You all were living)

Irregular Verbs

Like many languages, Portuguese has a few irregular verbs in the imperfect tense. The most commonly used are:

  1. Ser (to be):

    • Eu era (I was)
    • Tu eras (You were)
    • Ele/Ela/Você era (He/She/You were)
    • Nós éramos (We were)
    • Vós éreis (You all were)
    • Eles/Elas/Vocês eram (They/You all were)

  2. Ir (to go):

    • Eu ia (I was going)
    • Tu ias (You were going)
    • Ele/Ela/Você ia (He/She/You were going)
    • Nós íamos (We were going)
    • Vós íeis (You all were going)
    • Eles/Elas/Vocês iam (They/You all were going)

  3. Ver (to see):

    • Eu via (I saw)
    • Tu vias (You saw)
    • Ele/Ela/Você via (He/She/You saw)
    • Nós víamos (We saw)
    • Vós víeis (You all saw)
    • Eles/Elas/Vocês viam (They/You all saw)

Examples of the Imperfect in Context

To better illustrate the use of the imperfect tense, let’s look at some examples that demonstrate its application in everyday conversations and storytelling.

Describing Ongoing Actions

When recounting a typical day, one might say:

  • "Quando eu era criança, eu jogava futebol todos os dias."
    (When I was a child, I played soccer every day.)

In this sentence, “jogava” reflects the ongoing action of playing soccer, commonplace during those days.

Talking About Habits

Discussing childhood habits can also involve the imperfect tense:

  • "Nós costumávamos visitar nossos avós todos os domingos."
    (We used to visit our grandparents every Sunday.)

Here, “costumávamos” exemplifies a routine activity that happened repeatedly in the past.

Setting the Scene

When telling a story, the imperfect tense helps enrich the background context:

  • "Estava chovendo e as crianças brincavam no parque."
    (It was raining and the children were playing in the park.)

In this case, the imperfect establishes a vivid scene, creating an image of simultaneous actions.

Tips for Mastering the Imperfect Tense

  1. Practice Regularly: The more you use the imperfect tense in conversation and writing, the more natural it will feel. Create sentences about your past experiences using the imperfect tense.

  2. Listen and Read: Engage with Portuguese media, such as songs, TV shows, or books, paying attention to how the imperfect tense is used in context. This will help you internalize its usage.

  3. Speak About Your Past: Share stories from your childhood or past experiences with friends or in language exchanges. Try to incorporate the imperfect tense to convey ongoing actions and habits.

  4. Write It Out: Keep a journal in Portuguese where you describe your daily activities or reflect on past experiences. This will allow you to practice the imperfect in writing.

Conclusion

The imperfect tense is a powerful tool for expressing ongoing actions and habitual events in Portuguese. By understanding its formation and uses, you can enrich your storytelling and conversational skills in the language. Embrace the practice, and soon, you’ll be able to share your past with vividness and clarity. Happy learning!